2016 Mitsubishi Delica — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 367 MOT tests, the 2016 Mitsubishi Delica recorded a 74.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 14.3% of the time, so this is 11.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.1%) and brakes (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, steering rack and pins and bushes — service brake performance alone was recorded 33 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.1% versus 9.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 48 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 44 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.2% | 30 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 28 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.5% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 23 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 23 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 20 |
| 5 | Joints | 19 |
| 6 | Washers | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.1% | 140 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 25.3% | 93 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.3% | 89 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 58 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.9% | 51 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.7% | 43 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 32 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 96 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 283 | 26.9% |
| Diesel | 83 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 79 | 22.8% |
| 2022 | 83 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 78 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 66 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 61 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Delica
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2016 Mitsubishi Delicas pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 367 2016 Mitsubishi Delica MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Mitsubishi Delica?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.1% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 2016 Delica get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 30-60k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 367 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.